The National tribune., 1887-12-01
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
tiOnal Capital
GEN. aoEnoN enANaER,s WIDOW.

Though as sad as the widest story that imag-
NATIVE writers could coniure up. She was a
beautiful girl-a noted beauty even IN the blue
grass region, famous for beautiful women as
well rs fine horses, and she met Gordon Gran
ger just after the close OF the war, when he was
still young enough 10 be as full Of dash and
dare-devltry rs a boy OF 25. She was beauty
and a belle aud be was a famous and dashlng
General of the successful army, whose name was
known all through The country for gallant and
hard fighting. All the world Oversuch elements
are prone 20 match, and the bluegrass beauty
became Gordon Changers bride In the rough
frontier service 20 which he was sent the
wounds and hardships Of the war told on the
hardy but overtasked frame, and for the last
few years Of his life Gen. Granger, then Colonel
OF the 18th Inf, was a helpless complaining
and querulous sufferer. Atlast taps sound
ed for him, aud the still young ana beautiful
woman was left with sickly boy with no for
tune TO speak of, 10 struggle with the world.
During the Generals long illness, there was a
tall, handsome and intelligent young Adiutant
OF the regimCnt-a ScOtchmau by birth, VINO
had raised himself from the ranks, whose
quiet. devoted attention TO his chief and the
wife aud child. had won, FIRST, the respect and
friendship OF the wife, and, when all was over,
thebeautiul young widow was astOnished 10 dis
cover that the well built and good-looking Ad-
jutant had won a dcarer place still in her heart.
In due time there came quiet wedding in an
Eastern city that created n fiutter of excited
surprise throughout the Army, and our hero
Inc went back To Santa Fe as the bride of her
former husbands subordinate In many re-
spects the new alliance was much more suit
able: for the General had been many years her
senior and had many habits and tastes that
were uncongenial, while the Adjutant was
nearer her own age. An went well for a brief
time, when a shell exploded in the midst OF
the neWly-formed family. There was another
wife far away in a Scottish town, deserted IN
her youth 10 struggle along with babies 10 feed,
and despite a convenient change of name, the
fathless Scotch husband and the newly-wedded
Adjutaut was one and the same man. There
wasnO mistake. The story was officially verified,
and court-martial that followed spread the
whole disgraceful story before the whole coun-
try. Friends here in Washington, like Gen.
Sherman and Gen. Van Aliot and Gen. Ingalls,
brought the stricken woman here aud babe her
nerve herself for her sons sake, and to remem-
Der that no trace of shame could tarnish her
fair fame. Soon after she was given a clerical
position in the Quartermaster Generals Office,
and she struggled along with her deep grief
until the time when Commodore Vanderbilt
died. The many-millionaire had somehow
heard OF Mrs. Changers sad story, and when
his will was read il was found he had left a
Ro0dly sum 10 the poor woman. IL made her
rich-her needs were so few in this world S
goods, aud she At once resigned 10 go 10 her
girlhood's home TO be forgotten till now by the
world that once knew her so we'll. Poor little
woman; without fault Of hers, she suffered
more than comes TO the lot Of most women.
GEN. RUFUS sAXToN.
Brevet Brighten. Rufus Saxton Colonel and
Assistant Quartcrmaster General u. ;. A., has
asked to be relieved from his DATES in January
next and granted leave of absence until Oct.
49, 1855 on which date he will reach % years
of age, and, therefore viii go ON the retired
list under the same law that sacrificed Gen.
sherman. Gen. Augur aud Gen. Orlando h.
Wilcox for further seryice-uness another war
should call him and them back to active sery-
ice Tor time. How prominent the name Of
Gen SaXton was IN those early days Of the war
when general officers and big lighting CAM
paigns were few. While Captain in the
Quartermasters Department when the war
broke out, he was speedily made Brigadier-
General of Volunteers through the joint efforts
OF Charles sumner aud that grand man, Henry
Wilson, aud was sent TO Gen. David Hunters
command at Port Royal and Beaufort, S. c.,
and when Gen. Hunter was ordered North TO
other commands succeeded him on the Southern
coast. When Gen. Hunters proclamation, OF
General Order 10 enlist and arm the refugee
negroes had been summary revoked by Presi-
dent Lincoln at Mr. StantOns urgent demand
Gen. SaNton promptly gave an apt illustra'
around q stump" by bringing his Quar-.
master training into play, and directed that
the contrabands should be enrolled as laboren
by the QuarteTmasters on the South CarOlins
coast. lie supplemented this move by another
There were not sufficient troops 20 spare from
the long line of defense TO properly guard IN,
millions OF dollars worth of all kinds of store,
there, so he placed arms in the hands of select
ed eOntTabands TO guard stores aud property
and 10 make them efficient, he detailed compe
tent commissioned and nOn-commissiOned OH
GERS TO organize these new guards int,
bands companies, and they eventually becam,
recognized and excellent regiments of ia,
Iuiun army. There are more ways then one
u Kill cats, and there are also many ways Il
strictly obey imperative orders, even from TIA,
President OF the United States. Gen. SaXtonI
action was a source of great Joy TO a large pOr
tion % the Union-loying people of the North
but IL was grievOus thorn in the side of an
other large portion, who were Union men, bu
had not yet arrived at the full dignity of Re
publicanism, as expressed by such men as sum
ner, Wilson, John j. Hale. Zach Chandler
GiddiuPs OF Ohio, and Others, aud these wer,
auiagon4zed by Mr. Stanton. who was closer il
heart 10 he M0dentes. Mr. Stanton never for
gave Gen. Saxton for his clever bit Of strategy
even in those later days OF the war when ia,
authorities strained every nerve 10 add TO on
splendid force Of cul0red troops, and 10 the enc
OF the war successfully autagonized every ehor
Of the General to procure an active cOmman,
aGeld. Thus the end of the war found Saxtol
still onlyR Brieadier OF Volunteers, but Ia com
mon dceency the War Department was force,
% breyet him Msior-General of Volunteers. an,
give him four others in the Regular Army. 4
the grade OF Brigadier His many friends
both in aud out Of the service will be glad &
learn that fortunate land investments al vari
Gus frontier nosts where he has been has mad
him man of large wealth. so that mis- old az
will have 40 pecuniary annoyances as is TO
often the case with old officers
WILL HE BIZ C0NFIRMED9
There Dr. an increasing interest expressed a
10 the prospects Of Secretary Lamars conlirma
ti0n AZ Justice OF the Supreme Court whicl
appointment everyone comedies will be giyei
ham. AZ first u was thought that his coniirma
ton was certain from considerations of Sena
t0Tial courtesy" Mr.. Lamar Is very popula
with has former colleagues of the senate am,
d WAS supposed that they would be almos
unanimous for his confirmation But stron
aud apparently growing opposition has deve
opt on account OF his Secession anteccdeuts AN
his pronounced partisanship for JEFF Davis an
other representative rebels. it will be rcmcu
bered that Caleb Cushing WAS defeated for con
hrmatiOn rs Chief Justice because of the Dis
e0very OF a letter from him 70 "Prcsiden
Jefferson Davis" The Senate stands: Repnl
lieans, ~; Democrats 81. The matter Of Nj
Lamars confirmation viii probably be consid
cred and settled by a caucus OF the Republica
Senators.
OUR LAWMAKERS.
Senator ID. b. Sabin, OF Minnesota has r,
covered from the business reVerses which cam